Neetu Kapoor reveals emotional struggle filming Jug Jugg Jeeyo after Rishi Kapoor's 2020 death
Synopsis
Neetu Kapoor's return to cinema after Rishi Kapoor's death in 2020 wasn't a triumph—it was survival. Shivering before every shot on Jug Jugg Jeeyo, grieving alongside her daughter in separate rooms, she credits Karan Johar's push and the discipline of work itself with pulling her back from the edge. A raw account of how Bollywood's brightest lights navigate loss.
Key Takeaways
Neetu Kapoor revealed she experienced severe anxiety while filming Jug Jugg Jeeyo , the first major film after Rishi Kapoor's death in April 2020.
Filmmaker Karan Johar directly encouraged her to return to cinema, telling her she needed to get back to work.
Neetu admitted she would "shiver before every shot" despite having completed 70-80 films in her career.
Riddhima Kapoor Sahni described how mother and daughter grieved in isolation, unable to emotionally support each other post-loss.
Jug Jugg Jeeyo marked Neetu's return after a 12-year gap; her previous major role was in Do Dooni Chaar (2010) with Rishi Kapoor .
Veteran actress Neetu Kapoor has opened up about the emotional toll of returning to mainstream cinema following the death of her husband, legendary actor Rishi Kapoor, in April 2020. Speaking on Soha Ali Khan's podcast All About Her, Neetu revealed that filmmaker Karan Johar was instrumental in encouraging her to take on Jug Jugg Jeeyo, her first major film in over a decade.
The emotional weight of returning
Neetu recalled the profound anxiety she experienced while filming Jug Jugg Jeeyo. "You have no idea, I was a nervous wreck while doing Jug Jugg Jeeyo. Before every shot, I would shiver," she said. Despite having completed 70-80 films in her career, Neetu admitted that her confidence had been shattered by grief. "I have done 70-80 films, but my strength wasn't there. Going alone on a set without my husband. I had nobody. It was absolutely nerve-racking."
Karan Johar's intervention
Karan Johar approached Neetu with a direct but compassionate appeal to return to work. "Karan told me, 'Neetu ji, I think you have to get back and do a film,' I said yes," she recalled. The filmmaker's encouragement proved pivotal in her healing journey, even as the process of filming remained emotionally demanding.
Family grief and isolation
Neetu's daughter, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, who also appeared on the podcast, reflected on the family's struggle during that period. She described how both mother and daughter were grieving separately, unable to provide each other emotional support. "She could not vent to me because I was also grieving, and I couldn't vent to her. We used to go into separate rooms to sleep," Riddhima shared, highlighting the isolating nature of their shared loss.
Work as healing
Neetu credited returning to work with her gradual recovery. "I went out, I did shows, I judged some shows, and all of that made me stronger," she said. She emphasised that her motivations have shifted fundamentally since Rishi Kapoor's passing. "Today, I don't need fame, I don't need money. I do films on and off just to make myself happy."
Career trajectory post-loss
Jug Jugg Jeeyo marked Neetu Kapoor's return to mainstream cinema after a 12-year hiatus—her previous major appearance was in Do Dooni Chaar in 2010, where she starred alongside Rishi Kapoor. More recently, she appeared in Daadi Ki Shaadi alongside Kapil Sharma, which also marked Riddhima's Bollywood debut. Rishi Kapoor passed away on 30 April 2020 following a prolonged battle with leukemia.
Point of View
Shivering before shots despite seven decades of professional confidence, kept afloat only by Karan Johar's intervention and the discipline of showing up. That she and Riddhima grieved in separate rooms speaks volumes about how even families fracture under the weight of sudden loss. The narrative that work healed her is true, but incomplete: what actually saved her was the decision to be vulnerable enough to accept help.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Neetu Kapoor struggle while filming Jug Jugg Jeeyo?
Neetu Kapoor was emotionally fragile following her husband Rishi Kapoor's death in April 2020. She revealed that before every shot, she would shiver from anxiety, despite her 70-80 years of film experience. Going on set alone without her husband by her side was deeply nerve-racking for her.
What role did Karan Johar play in Neetu Kapoor's return to cinema?
Filmmaker Karan Johar directly encouraged Neetu to return to work after Rishi Kapoor's death. He told her, 'Neetu ji, I think you have to get back and do a film,' and she agreed. His intervention proved pivotal in her decision to take on Jug Jugg Jeeyo.
When was Rishi Kapoor's last film with Neetu Kapoor?
Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor last appeared together in Do Dooni Chaar in 2010. Jug Jugg Jeeyo marked her return to mainstream cinema after a 12-year gap and was her first major film without Rishi by her side.
How did the family cope with grief after Rishi Kapoor's death?
Neetu and her daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni grieved in isolation, unable to emotionally support each other. Riddhima revealed they would go into separate rooms to sleep, highlighting how their shared loss paradoxically isolated them from one another.
